Harlingen lands $1.5M state grant for city’s first recreational center

The city’s planning to build Harlingen’s first recreational center after landing a $1.5 million grant, picking Pendleton Park as the site of the $6 million project.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is awarding the grant earmarked for the building’s design and construction while requiring a $1.5 million city match, City Manager Gabriel Gonzalez said Tuesday, adding officials are working to tap funding sources.

Mayor Norma Sepulveda called the grant “a huge win for Harlingen.”

“We will continue pursuing additional grants to lessen the tax burden on residents, especially since this is a matching grant,” she said.

Now, officials are planning to apply for grants to help fund the $6 million project, considering turning to foundations such as the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation and sources funding parks projects, Gonzalez said.

The project calls for construction of a one-story, 23,000-square-foot building likely including features such as pickleball and basketball courts, he said.

“It’s going to be amazing, the fact we’re going to have another indoor facility which residents can use for sporting events,” Gonzalez said.

At City Hall, officials are planning the recreational center to help residents live healthier lifestyles.

“This project is just one of many steps we are taking to build a healthier, stronger Harlingen,” Sepulveda said in a statement. “This new recreation center will provide a reliable space for basketball, pickleball, fitness classes and health and nutrition programs, including a commercial kitchen to support hands-on learning.”

Last July, officials made plans to apply for the grant, tapping the project as a priority.

“Health and wellness have always been a top priority for me, and I’ve long envisioned a dedicated indoor recreation center for Harlingen,” Sepulveda said.

“Weather is a major factor. Extreme heat and heavy rains often disrupt outdoor activities, making it even more important to have a dedicated indoor facility. Rather than relying solely on local funding, I sought opportunities to leverage grants to make this vision a reality.”

After the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission recommended the project for funding, Sepulveda helped push for the grant.

At City Hall, Ana Hernandez, the city’s special projects director, worked to develop the winning grant proposal.

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission grant process was highly competitive, with applicants from across the state,” Sepulveda said. “When our project was recommended for approval, I traveled to Austin to advocate before the commission, emphasizing not only Harlingen’s high prevalence of diabetes but also our lack of dedicated indoor recreational space.”

For years, some residents have been turning to the city’s Community Center on Madison Avenue for fitness and nutritional classes, making it the “closest thing we have to a recreation center,” Sepulveda said.

But the building also serves as a meeting and events center, “making it difficult to consistently host fitness classes, open-play for pickleball and other wellness programs,” she said.

“Consistency is key when it comes to fitness and wellness, and when locations change or classes are canceled due to space issues, it makes it even harder for people to stay engaged,” Sepulveda said.

“I’ve heard from residents frustrated that pickleball open-play is frequently canceled because the space is occupied for other events,” she said. “We also offer health and nutrition classes but we lack a proper facility to demonstrate cooking techniques and educate our community on the importance of a healthy diet.”

Officials have not set a timetable for the recreational center’s construction, Gonzalez said.

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